Question

5-3 Mitotic chromosomes were first visualized in the 1880s with the use of very simple tools: a basic light microscope and some dyes. Which of the following characteristics of mitotic chromosomes reflects how they were named?

1) (a) motion
2) (b) color
3) (c) shape
4) (d) location

Answer 1

Mitotic chromosomes were named for their c) shape, as when they were first observed, they condensed into distinct X-shaped bodies that could be distinguished under a microscope.

Step-by-step explanation:

The characteristics of mitotic chromosomes that reflect how they were named are their shape. When mitotic chromosomes were first visualized in the 1880s using a basic light microscope and dyes, they condensed from an amorphous nuclear mass into distinct X-shaped bodies. These X-shaped bodies consist of pairs of identical sister chromatids and reflect a structure that stood out under microscopic observation. Hence, the answer to the student's question is (c) shape, as this characteristic played a crucial role in how they were identified and named during their visualization.